Christian Merli in France to defend his European title

After winning the test race at the Salita del Costo in Italy last Sunday, Scuderia Vimotorsport driver Christian Merli will be lining up with his Osella FA 30 Zytek LRM for the first round of the European Hill Climb Championship. The 48th edition of the Col Saint-Pierre hill climb on the 5.080 km track at St. Jean du Gard north of Montpellier in France will be contested over two race heats on Sunday. The European championship classification will be based on accumulated times. The entry list boasts no less than 13 three-litre racing cars. For the champion from Trentino it is a trip of around 1000 km.

The track in Christian’s words
“A short initial straight, then a winding section, followed by a fast and technically demanding stretch to be taken in high gears. We’ve done some good work over the past month, working day and night. Our car is ready, as the victory at Costo has shown. I’m very pleased, and the rest is now up to me. Of course we are always dependent on the weather. For now, they’re forecasting very low temperatures, just 1 degree at the start. But I’m really looking forward to the European adventure, where I’ll be competing against the best drivers from the continent.”

The European Hill Climb Championship calendar
10 April: Col Saint-Pierre (France), 8 May: 41st Rampa Internacional da Falperra (Portugal), 15 May: 50th Subida al Fito (Spain), 29 May: 41st Ecce Homo Sternberk (Czech Republic), 3 July: 71st Trento – Bondone (Italy), 31 July: 13th Hill Climb Limanowa (Poland), 21 August: 77th Course de Côte de Saint Ursanne (Switzerland), 4 September: 28th GHD Ilirska Bistrica (Slovenia), 18 September: 41st Buzetski Dani (Croatia).

Ruth Scheithauer